It is encouraging that the Dalai Lama, at long last, spoke out openly about Sogyal Lakar and Rigpa. We should not forget, however, that he did so only after survivors’ stories and questions by reporters worldwide made it inevitable.

Likewise, we should not forget that for decades survivors and witnesses have repeatedly warned the Dalai Lama in vain about the sexual abuse by Sogyal Lakar, Namkha Rinpoche, and other Tibetan lamas. So far, Sogyal is the sole Tibetan abuser who the Dalai Lama has mentioned by name, while many others like him remain unnamed.

Finally, I am not aware of any effort by the Dalai Lama to invite survivors to share their experiences directly with him. His comments, at best, pay lip service to their plight—nothing more. Instead, the Dalai Lama focusses on the abuser, his entourage and institution. Clearly, he has not risen above the classic reflexes of religious figureheads of all denominations.

The Dalai Lama would do better to give the victims of sexual abuse by Tibetan clergy the recognition that is due, openly. He could do this by inviting a delegation of survivors to a meeting in his residence in India.

I would also suggest that the Dalai Lama hosts a Mind & Life meeting with (mostly) Western scientists about sexuality, sexual abuse and its treatments. The past decades, experts in the West, in part thanks to efforts of the Roman-Catholic church, have gathered a wealth of experience in these fields.

By and large, the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan lamas have remained oblivious of this expertise. As far as human sexuality and its derailments are concerned, a further training course is long overdue.

In your letter, you emphasized that Vajrayana needs to be properly introduced. What I understood from your letter is that even though an authentic Vajra Master can pretty much do whatever they see fit, the relationship needs to be properly established. You say the Vajrayana teachings lay this out clearly. From this point of view, I would say I was not properly introduced, neither to the Vajryana nor the Dzogchen Samaya. If I manage to get a good lawyer, I think I have good chance to argue in Vajrayana court that my contract was not valid.

It's interesting to see how the word allegations is being used all across the world when it's about Men sexual abuse, usually rich, priviledged, powerful men using their positions to try at all cost to appear innocent, "using the justice system" or a third-party independent body to look into these "allegations" while maintaning a narrative to appear like innocent. the denial is still KING, either for Sogyal or for RIGPA board, the tone of the letters sound as if the allegations will be proven false and his reputation soon restored.

It's probably the last time we have to LINK the #RIGPA case to the #OKC case, both bearing very similar behaviour, not only from the "board" but also from the accused "master" himself, both using narratives, words and excuses to appear innocent that cannot be taken seriously.

Any independent third-party looking into these matters should be the French Justice System, the Police, but for this to happen, survivors NEED to make a formal complaint, need to use the Human Law Justice system to make sure these so called "masters" are judged not only from a spiritugal point of view but most certainly from a Human Law point of view. Buddhism cannot exclude itself or put himsel on top of Human Laws as if sexual abuses conducted by a so called "master" can only be judged by spiritual laws or worst : stay for ever managed like a personal, internal dispute that an independent third-party could solve.

Survivors from #Sogyal sexual abuse MUST go to Justice, must make a formal complaints, that is the only way to force not only Sogyal to face his actions but also #RIGPA to take this very very seriously and make sure this never ever happens again. of course adopting a code of conduct (the irony that a code of conduct needs to be crafted for a spiritual philosophy will not escape to anyone that Knows just even a fraction of what Buddhism stand for)

- Go to Justice, Buddhism is not a Law on top of Human Laws and Human Justice System. - If we really want to Clean Buddhism from these serial abusers, keeping this scandal an internal affair will never solve the problem, it will only push for later the possibility of a real, lasting solutions that can be put in place all across Dharma centers all around the World. - Do not think for one second that, as a survivor, Speaking up is Equal to "Harming Buddhism or Dharma or RIGPA" this is an excuse, used both in the case of OKC or other scandals that is a construct to minimise the importance of the abuse with the intent to preserve, turn off the light, the public eye from these abusers that use Buddhist Sangha & Dharma as a shield.

Let's finish the work : let's speak up, let's make sure this never happens to anyone ever again.